The Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa subclass 491 of Australia is awarded for 5 years and the holder can work, stay, and study in the designated region. There are multiple entries/exits from Australia possible and the holder can apply for permanent residency after 3 years via a subclass 191 visa.
The main applicant can choose to be sponsored by a family member in Australia or nominated by the State/Territory Government. The visa system is based on Expression of Interest which means a confirmation of visa application submission is sent to the applicant to finally apply for the visa. Overall, to get the invitation to apply, the applicant must score a minimum of 65 against the requirements such as nomination, qualification, family, and English language.
Overview of the Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa Subclass 491
| Cost | Main applicant fee: From AUD4,640.00; additional charges for family members, ensuring accessibility while meeting administrative needs. |
| Stay duration | Up to 5 years, non-extendable, fostering stable residence and integration within regional areas. |
| Pathways to Permanent Residence | Eligible for subclass 191 after 3 years; restrictions apply to other visas, emphasizing a commitment to regional settlement. Once you have held a subclass 491 visa, other visa options can be adopted. |
| Family Inclusion | Eligible family members can be included; health and character requirements apply, prioritizing family unity and well-being. The visa fee for family members is AUD4,640.00. |
| Visa application possibility | Within/outside Australia; certain visa types are required if applying within Australia (substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A visa, a subclass 020 Bridging B visa, or a subclass 030 Bridging C visa, otherwise your application will not be valid) offering flexibility in application procedures. |
| Designated regional area | You and your family must reside, work, and study in designated regions, contributing to the growth and prosperity of regional communities. |
Eligibility Requirements
Be invited to apply
You require an invitation via SkillSelect. You cannot apply for this visa if the Australian Immigration Department does not invite you to do so. You should submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the Skillselect portal. You should also indicate there if you want to be sponsored by a family member in Australia or nominated by the state or territory government agency to nominate you.
Be nominated or sponsored
Since you need nomination by state/territory or sponsorship by an eligible relative, demonstrating commitment and support from relevant entities, you should apply (submit EOI) through Skillsselect and see how many points you score. As a rule, you must score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible for an invitation to apply.
If you have mentioned at the time of submitting EOI that you want a nomination from a state or territory government agency, they may see your profile and nominate you for the visa. If you have chosen to be sponsored by a family member, you may be sent an invitation to apply by the Australian department in the round of invitation.
Nomination through state or territory government
The following states or territories can nominate you for the visa:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Each of these has its requirements for nomination. If you are nominated by any of these, the immigration department will send you an invitation to apply for the visa.
Sponsored by family member
The immigration department must approve before you are granted the visa subclass 491.
The following family members or relatives can be your sponsors:
- a parent
- a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
- a child or step-child
- a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew, or step-niece
- an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt, or step-uncle
- a grandparent, or
- a first cousin
- The sponsor relative or family member must be:
- an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
- 18 years old or older
- your eligible relative or your partner’s eligible relative if your partner is also applying for this visa
- usually resident in a designated area of Australia
Meet the skills requirement
Occupation must be on the eligible skilled occupations list, addressing regional skill shortages effectively. Applicant must receive the positive skills assessment from relevant authorities. The assessment report will be accepted for the applicant’s chosen skilled occupation or stream within 60 days of invitation to apply.
Your report of assessment must not be older than 3 years at the time you apply for the visa. You can check here the skills assessment process and awarding bodies.
Scoring a minimum of 65 points
When you apply through Skillsassist, your profile is checked against your claimed score. If you score less than 65 points required, you will not be sent the invitation to apply for the visa.
If you score 65 or above, you will be sent an invitation to apply for the visa. You will also see your score in your profile. At the time of applying, you must also provide documents to prove your claimed score.
English language proficiency
The main applicant must show English language proficiency through the following official test certificates:
| Test | Score |
| IELTS | Overall score of 6 and 6 in each component. |
| TOEFL iBT tests that were completed between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 | At least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing, and 18 for speaking |
| PTE Academic | At least 50 for each of the 4 components |
| Occupational English Test | At least B for each of the 4 components |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test. From 12 February 2024, only results from the paper-based Cambridge C1 Advanced test will be accepted. | At least 169 in each of the 4 components |
Applicants who are citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, or the Republic of Ireland do not need to show the above-mentioned test certificates.
Furthermore, if you have studied full-time in a secondary or higher secondary school for 5 years in Australia, you also do not need to prove your English language proficiency at the competent level.
If there is any family member who is 18+ and does not have functional English (for example for IELTS the functional score is 4.5 overall), must also pay the second installment (AUD4,890.00) of the visa fee when asked by the immigration department.
Processing Times
The processing time for the State/Terroretiy Government stream and Family sponsored stream are:
| Processing Times* | State/Territory Government Nominated | Family-sponsored stream |
| 50% processed | 12 months | 10 months |
| 90% processed | 24 months | 21 months |
General Eligibility Requirements
The main applicant must:
- be under 45 years; adjustments considered, reflecting the importance of attracting skilled individuals across different age groups;
- have valid assessment aligned with the nominated occupation needed, verifying competency and suitability for the visa;
- be able to score 65 points or more. The invitation specifies the points needed, ensuring the selection of highly skilled candidates;
- (and family members) show, safeguarding public health and safety as well as maintaining the integrity of the immigration system;
- settle outstanding, ensuring compliance with financial obligations to the Australian government;
- agree to respect Australian values and laws, emphasizing cultural integration and adherence to societal norms and you have to sign an Australian values statement; and
- have a clean immigration history; exceptions may apply, ensuring integrity while allowing for individual circumstances. You should ideally not have had your visa canceled or your application refused in the past.
Points Calculator Subclass 491
Below is the points calculator that can help you determine how many points you can score even before you apply for the EOI:
Nomination or sponsorship
If you get a nomination from by state or territory government or approved sponsorship from a family member, you can score 15 points.
Language proficiency
| English | Points |
| Competent English | 0 |
| Proficient English | 10 |
| Superior English | 20 |
Qualification (Education)
| Education | Points |
| A Doctorate (with recognized standards). | 20 |
| At least a Bachelor’s degree (recognized standard). | 15 |
| A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution. | 10 |
| Obtained qualification that is recognized by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation. | 10 |
Age
| Age | Points |
| 18 but less than 25 years | 25 |
| 25 but less than 33 years | 30 |
| 33 but less than 40 years | 25 |
| 40 but less than 45 years | 15 |
Skilled employment experience (overseas)
| Years | Points |
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| At least 3 but less than 5 years | 5 |
| At least 5 but less than 8 years | 10 |
| At least 8 years | 15 |
Spouse/Partner
| Requirement | Points |
| Your spouse must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English, and skill criteria. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa they: – had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation – were under 45 years old – had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa. – had competent English (for example a score of 6 overall in IELTS) | 10 |
| Your spouse must also be an applicant for this visa and have competent English (such as an overall score of 6) | 5 |
| Your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident or you are single. | 10 |
Specialist education qualification
| Requirement | Points |
| A master’s degree in research or a Doctorate from an Australian educational institution that includes at least 2 academic years of study in a relevant field. The qualified fields are: – Natural and physical sciences – Information technology – Engineering and related technology | 10 |
Australian study requirement
You can score 5 points if you have at least 1 degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.
Professional Year in Australia
If you have passed a professional year in the fields of Accounting, ICT/Computing, or Engineering, then you also score 5 extra points.
Credentialled community language
If you hold this credential, you can score 5 points as well.
Study in regional Australia
If you have studied for a year in a degree, trade, or diploma qualification, you can be awarded 5 points. The qualification must meet the Australian study requirements.
STEP-BY-STEP process of visa application
Step 1: Preliminary Preparation
- Submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect: Initiate the visa application process by formally expressing your interest.
- Ensure accuracy and compliance with visa requirements are maintained.
- Check your occupation against the combined list of eligible skilled occupations: Verify alignment with the visa criteria.
- Obtain a suitable skills assessment within the 3-year validity period: Ensure competency and relevance to the nominated occupation.
Step 2: Invitation and Nomination
- Await invitation to apply: Wait for a potential invitation to apply for the visa based on your EOI submission and eligibility criteria.
- Nomination by state or territory government: If nominated, receive confirmation from relevant authorities and proceed with the application process.
- Sponsorship by an eligible relative: If applicable, receive sponsorship confirmation from an eligible relative and proceed accordingly.
Step 3: Document Compilation
- Collect identity documents: Gather essential identity documents such as your passport and any proof of name change if applicable.
- Provide evidence of skills assessment: Submit documentation validating your skills assessment, including reference numbers or qualifications.
- Organize English language proficiency proof: Compile documentation demonstrating English language proficiency with test results not older than three years.
- Obtain health insurance evidence: Gather proof of adequate health insurance coverage for yourself and accompanying dependents.
Step 4: Visa Application Preparation
- Apply online via ImmiAccount: Initiate the visa application process by logging in or creating an account on the designated platform.
- Attach required documents: Ensure all necessary paperwork is submitted along with your application.
- Complete payment of the application fee: Finalize the payment of the application fee and note the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) for future reference.
Step 5: Visa Outcome
Your visa application may be granted or refused. If the visa has been granted, you will be informed about the next steps. Australian visas are digital and are not labeled on the passport.